Montreal: A father and son take the daughter of a Mafia don hostage in Le Génie du crime – a dark crime drama that reunites director Louis Bélanger and cinematographer Jean-Pierre St-Louis of Gaz Bar Blues.

Bélanger was reportedly very taken with a series of theatrical pieces written by Toronto playwright George F. Walker, titled Suburban Motel (three of which were recently adapted into the Gary Yates film Niagara Motel). He and producer André Gagnon of Lycaon Pictus acquired the rights and managed to find $750,000 in financing from Radio-Canada, the National Film Board and Telefilm to shoot the film in 10 days, wrapping on May 12.

Costs could be kept under control, Gagnon explains, because the action takes place almost entirely inside a motel room. The film stars Gilles Renaud, Patrick Drolet, François Papineau, Anne-Marie Cadieux and Julie Le Breton.

‘This is a very dark film,’ says Gagnon. ‘But it’s also very funny. Walker is an incredibly talented writer. His ideas and dialogue are superb. When this was performed on stage in Montreal, there were a number of comedians who connected with the material and really wanted to be cast in it.’

Gagnon adds that he was ‘disappointed’ that SODEC did not come on board for the project. Slated for a fall release, Le Génie du crime will be distributed by K-Films Amérique.